The Air Force teaches survival to troops that may be stranded in desert territory overseas, but I prefer to bring along some of my own water and food when working in the desert.
The best way to avoid a safety crisis in the local desert, according to Air Force is to travel with adequate water, a supply of foods that keep well such as jerky and granola bars and a knife, matches and tinder to make a fire. Dryer lint makes great tinder too.
It wouldn't hurt to take along a cellular phone, either. These items aren't helpful just to off-road enthusiasts. In the desert summertime or winter, even a highway breakdown between desert cities requires a little survival savvy.
But, for those who wonder what surviving off the land in summer would entail for a U.S. pilot downed in hostile desert near the Persian Gulf, here are some tips. This would also apply to survival in the deserts of North America and around the world.
The Air Force approach consists of general rules of thumb, not detailed botanical knowledge of specific plant or animal species.
•To find water, check the out side corners of otherwise-dry stream beds. Runoff collects at the base of rock bluffs. Notice the direction that birds fly in early morning or at dusk. Go that direction, you may find their water source. For moisture, check the interior of a cactus. Scoop out the pulp, squeeze chew or suck on it till it's dry, then spit it out. Don't eat the pulp.
•If you don't have water to drink, don't eat, either. The stomach draws fluid from the rest of the body to digest. That takes water from the brain and muscles.
•Conserve the fluids in your body by keeping to the shade. Don't stay right against a rock wall (or in your disabled car) they may be significantly hotter than the air. If possible? perch on something (such as a small rock or log) to raise yourself about 18 inches off the ground, which also is hot.
•Don't overexert yourself. Anytime you do something you don't have to do, you're sweating, that cost you calories and water.
•The fruit of all cacti are edible. The fruits are soft when ripe (preparation).
•Chunks of flat-leaf cactus can be boiled and eaten once the spines are removed. Boiling will loosen the spines (preparation).
•All desert flowers can be eaten except those with a milky or colored sap(preparation).
•If a plant root looks or smells like an onion, it is most likely (preparation).
•The tender white ends of grasses, just above the roots, are usually edible.
•Many insects are edible (preparation).
"The general rule is, 'If it has seven legs or more, leave it alone,'". A multi legged centipede, for example, should be avoided.
Most insects you're going to want to eat raw, except grasshoppers. They (can) have parasites. So, roast your grasshoppers (preparation). Ants Bee and Termites need to be boiled (formic acid, preparation).
•If you catch and kill any small game, it should be left alone until cold, to allow parasites to drop off.
•If you don't know if a plant is safe to eat, do an edibility test. The test is time-consuming, so don't perform it unless there is a plentiful supply of that plant on hand.
•Be aware that your digestive system likely will encounter "some degree of problem" when subsisting on strange, new plants. 'Your system is used to fast foods, and now your system is eating ultra-fiber."
For the test, first take a bit of the plant, crush it then rub it on your skin (the inner upper arm) to see if you get any ill effects just from physical contact.
If you don't get a rash or stinging sensation right away, wait several hours.
If still no ill effects have appeared, rub some of the crushed plant on your lips or under your tounge. Again wait for ill effects, which may include nausea or dizziness.
If you suffer none, then put a bit of it in your mouth. Hold it there for several hours, chewing it but not swallowing any of the juice.
If you don't get a bad reaction, next take a dime-sized piece of the plant. Chew it up some and swallow.
"Now' you're getting to the dangerous part. Wait at least eight to 10 hours before eating any more.
"Any bad sign' don't go back and eat any more of it," If you get a bad reaction at anytime, (STOP). Bad signs include nausea, cramping, vomiting, diarrhea or fainting.
Lits review the advice, (Be Perpared). Take along basic survival
supplies. "The main point is not to (need to) eat the bugs and
sticks."
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